PIA flight crashes in Karachi, dozens die

Officials working to salvage the wreckage while recovering bodies of the PIA plane crash at a residential area in Karachi on May 22

Firefighters spraying water on the plane wreckage

Volunteers looking for survivors amid the wreckage of the plane crash

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Dhaka: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) passenger plane flying from Lahore crashed into a residential area of Karachi on May 22, killing at least 76 people.

Flight PK8303, an Airbus A320 carrying 91 passengers and eight crew, was approaching Jinnah International Airport at about 14:30 local time (09:30 GMT). It had been given permission to land but the pilots decided to abort and go around for a second attempt, possibly due to being unable to lower its undercarriage.

But as it went round again lost its engines and issued a mayday call. At least two passengers are confirmed to have survived the crash.

Investigators will try to retrieve the so-called black box recorders to help determine the cause. A committee of investigation has already been set up.

PIA said the plane had joined the fleet in 2014 and passed its annual airworthiness inspection last November.

The plane was only just short of the runway perimeter when it struck houses in the Model Colony residential area. Footage showed rescue crews combing through debris strewn across the streets of the densely populated zone. A number of cars were set on fire.

The crash came just days after Pakistan began allowing commercial flights to resume after the coronavirus lockdown.